Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Saturday April 24, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings chapter 8. If you would like to read along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-24
Title: Bible Study: Wholeheartedly Committed
Prayer is our most valuable asset, the word prayer means that you are asking God for something, we can talk to God and praise Him and thank Him for the things that He has done for us and blessed us with, but this is not praying. The only time it is prayer is when we are asking Him for things. When we pray to God we are telling Him, “I have done everything I possibly can, I put my faith and trust in You to help me and give me what I need.” This is where there can be complications and confusion when we start asking God for help and not seeing any results. Probably the most common mistake that Christians make is they get too confident in themselves that they never pray to God, that is, until they are in trouble. Now, first of all, we are to never cease from praying, we are to actually be praying for things that pertain to the future, today. Second, we need to pray for things that are in the will of God, if we are asking for some things that goes against God we are not going to receive them. Third, and the most important thing to remember when we are asking God for things, we need to be willing to do the work needed to receive them. What I mean by this is that God blesses us for the things we do for Him today, we can not just be good until we receive them then go back to our old bad habits. That only shows God that we are making a mockery out of His good graces. If we truly want to receive the blessings from God we are to go to Him wholeheartedly, ceasing from the bad habits at all times. God will prove to us one way or another that we need to be in His will at all times.
King Solomon was the wisest and most wealthiest man of his time, all of his success was due to the fact that his father, David was a godly man and he passed on the reigns to him. However, his biggest downfall was that fact that he was not wholeheartedly committed to God. The time had come for the Ark to be placed in its new home, a home that King David commanded Solomon to build before his death. “Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude....And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.” - I Kings 8:1-5,10,11. It was the biggest event of their time, the Ark was about to be put in it's permanent resting place. Thousands of people walking with the king, priests, and Levites, worshiping, singing, and praising God along the way. Suddenly, God's glory descends and fills the House so powerfully that the priests cannot stand before it to minister. Today, the glory of God descends off of every Christian who wholeheartedly seeks to live their lives through Jesus Christ.
As the people stood in the courtyard and worshiped the Lord, Solomon stood on a platform and prayed the longest recorded prayer in the Bible, “And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:...What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake; (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.” - I Kings 8:23,38-43. Solomon knew well that there was only one God and that God looked upon the heart, not only in Jews, but Gentiles as well. God looks upon men's hearts and knows whether or not their prayer is a mere passing emotion or that they have truly turned to Him for help.
Prayer is a wonderful privilege given to us by God, but all our prayers are worthless unless we give ourselves to God wholeheartedly. Now, we can from time to time get ourselves out of the will of God, but those who give themselves wholeheartedly to God will be forgiven and reconciled with God when they come to Him and repent and seek forgiveness. In fact the better our relationship with God the less we will sin and seek Him wholeheartedly. “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart....With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” - Psalms 119:2,10,11. Want all of God's blessings? It's simple, say, “I will hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” This is the true will of God and how we can receive His blessings and keep from sin. Every child of God is more precious to our Heavenly Father than Solomon's Temple was since we are the temple of God. Every day is a sacred trust that becomes more meaningful with the awareness that the God of heaven lives wholeheartedly within every believer.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and the rest of your weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Bible Study: A Beautiful Work of Art 04.23.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Friday April 23, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings, chapters 5-7. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-23
Title: Bible Study: A Beautiful Work of Art
As Christian's we hold one of the most honored blessings, we are the Temple of God. That means that every person who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior is a Temple of God. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” - I Corinthians 3:16. Now, with that in mind, are you truly honoring the Temple of God? Of course, we all do things that are questionable, but just as the first Temple took time to build so does ours. Stone by stone, piece by piece, God is building His Temple in each and every one of us, it may look a bit ordinary and dull on the outside, it may even take a while, but He is molding us and shaping us to be a beautiful work of art.
Before Jesus came, the Holy Spirit did not dwell in a person, He dwelt above the Ark of the Covenant of God. Although David was able to retrieve the Ark after the Philistines took it, he never had a permanent home for it, but before he died he gave Solomon the command to build a house for God. “And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name....And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. ” - I Kings 5:1-5,7. Solomon enlisted the best people to help build God's house. The Temple was chiefly built by the riches and labor of Gentiles, which typified their being called into the church.
When Hiram heard that he had a chance to build the Temple he rejoiced and jumped at the opportunity. God will use anyone willing to serve Him, regardless of their color, race, or degree.
480 years after the Israelites were freed from Egypt, King Solomon began construction of the Temple, it was built out of the finest stones and materials. “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits....And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.... In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif: And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.” - I Kings 6:1,2,7,37,38. The Temple took eleven years to build, every stone added to the building was already shaped and molded to fit so that no noise was made by the craftsmen as they constructed it. This silence was the design of God and illustrates the unnoticed manner in which God carries on His purpose of grace within the Christian. We are transformed into His glorious likeness, not by noisy human efforts, but silently by the power of the Holy Spirit, as day by day God perfects His Temple within every believer.
Solomon's Temple was not a large structure compared to some of today's massive worship centers. Its beauty was not in its intricate workmanship and the excessive costliness of its materials. Although the building was beautiful to behold, the real glory of the Temple was deep within. Its true glory was in God's Presence in the Holy of Holies. The Temple was the only structure on earth ever to be the dwelling place of the Sovereign Creator and Holy God. Many of today's churches may look impressive, but there is no sign of God in them. God no longer dwells in buildings, He dwells within the people in the buildings. The indwelling presence of God is the life and the inspiration of all who know Him as Lord and Savior. God desires to display His priceless gold, silver, and precious stones of love, joy, peace, and gentleness through every believer, not a building. “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” - I Corinthians 3:10,11.
As God creates a beautiful work of art in us, it is important that we lay our foundation on Jesus Christ, He will teach us and guide us away from all that is unrighteousness, even those we hang around that are not. However, we must make an effort if we want to build our temple, the first thing we need to do is to separate ourselves from unbelievers. They will keep us from being molded properly, or at least prolong it. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - II Corinthians 6:14-18. I know this can be hard, but God will take care of it, He will either bring them to know Christ and become a believer or He will make a way for you to be separated from them. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus and He will honor us as we honor Him. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Today is Friday April 23, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings, chapters 5-7. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-23
Title: Bible Study: A Beautiful Work of Art
As Christian's we hold one of the most honored blessings, we are the Temple of God. That means that every person who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior is a Temple of God. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” - I Corinthians 3:16. Now, with that in mind, are you truly honoring the Temple of God? Of course, we all do things that are questionable, but just as the first Temple took time to build so does ours. Stone by stone, piece by piece, God is building His Temple in each and every one of us, it may look a bit ordinary and dull on the outside, it may even take a while, but He is molding us and shaping us to be a beautiful work of art.
Before Jesus came, the Holy Spirit did not dwell in a person, He dwelt above the Ark of the Covenant of God. Although David was able to retrieve the Ark after the Philistines took it, he never had a permanent home for it, but before he died he gave Solomon the command to build a house for God. “And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name....And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. ” - I Kings 5:1-5,7. Solomon enlisted the best people to help build God's house. The Temple was chiefly built by the riches and labor of Gentiles, which typified their being called into the church.
When Hiram heard that he had a chance to build the Temple he rejoiced and jumped at the opportunity. God will use anyone willing to serve Him, regardless of their color, race, or degree.
480 years after the Israelites were freed from Egypt, King Solomon began construction of the Temple, it was built out of the finest stones and materials. “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits....And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.... In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif: And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.” - I Kings 6:1,2,7,37,38. The Temple took eleven years to build, every stone added to the building was already shaped and molded to fit so that no noise was made by the craftsmen as they constructed it. This silence was the design of God and illustrates the unnoticed manner in which God carries on His purpose of grace within the Christian. We are transformed into His glorious likeness, not by noisy human efforts, but silently by the power of the Holy Spirit, as day by day God perfects His Temple within every believer.
Solomon's Temple was not a large structure compared to some of today's massive worship centers. Its beauty was not in its intricate workmanship and the excessive costliness of its materials. Although the building was beautiful to behold, the real glory of the Temple was deep within. Its true glory was in God's Presence in the Holy of Holies. The Temple was the only structure on earth ever to be the dwelling place of the Sovereign Creator and Holy God. Many of today's churches may look impressive, but there is no sign of God in them. God no longer dwells in buildings, He dwells within the people in the buildings. The indwelling presence of God is the life and the inspiration of all who know Him as Lord and Savior. God desires to display His priceless gold, silver, and precious stones of love, joy, peace, and gentleness through every believer, not a building. “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” - I Corinthians 3:10,11.
As God creates a beautiful work of art in us, it is important that we lay our foundation on Jesus Christ, He will teach us and guide us away from all that is unrighteousness, even those we hang around that are not. However, we must make an effort if we want to build our temple, the first thing we need to do is to separate ourselves from unbelievers. They will keep us from being molded properly, or at least prolong it. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - II Corinthians 6:14-18. I know this can be hard, but God will take care of it, He will either bring them to know Christ and become a believer or He will make a way for you to be separated from them. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus and He will honor us as we honor Him. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
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Thursday, April 22, 2010
Bible Study: Just One Thing 04.22.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Thursday April 22, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings, chapters 3-4. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-22
Title: Bible Study: Just One Thing
When we get ourselves into messes we often wonder, “How did I get myself into this mess?” While sometimes we want to blame others or even blame God for what is happening the truth is, it's all of our own doing. If you truly stop and think about the things you did to get where you were you would find out that it all started with just one thing.
Solomon was a wise man, a rich man, a great man, yet the brightest praise of him, is that he loved the Lord. Sadly he also loved the things of the world and that would soon cause him to align Israel with Egypt once again. His first mistake, he married the Pharaoh's daughter. “And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.”- I Kings 3:1-4. How sad is it to read that he loved the Lord, yet sacrificed in high places, high places were the groves heathens used to offer human sacrifices to their gods. Solomon loved God, but he was not willing to follow all his commands. Perhaps he thought such a large offering would make up for compromising Israel with Egypt. Solomon is an example of brilliant, multi-talented people who say they love God, but compromise with the world to get the things they want. They are so blessed with God's gifts, yet compromise biblical principles, assuming that God is pleased and blessing them since they are successful and popular in the world.
God saw where this was going so to get his attention, that night He came to Solomon in a dream, “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” - I Kings 3:5-9. This was not just some ordinary dream, this was God and He was speaking to him through the dream. This dream revealed the abundant mercy and grace that God would give Solomon or anyone else who chooses to live to love the Lord with all his heart and keeps His commandments, but sadly, his dream did not create in Solomon a real desire to be faithful to God. Eventually he turned away from the Lord because his desire to please himself and his foreign wives became greater than his desire to please God. All it took was one thing to turn Solomon away from God and that was by marrying a heathen wife. Later on in his life, he learned that all of the things he had, all of the eight hundred plus wives he had, and all of the wealth he had, did nothing for him, it was all worthless without God.
Just one thing can turn prosperity into shame, that is why it is important that we make decisions according to the Word of God. God will use many ways to get us to hear what He has to say to us, even our dreams. How do you know if it is God speaking to you? Anything God says, whether it is in a dream, a vision, an impression, or that still small voice in your head, will agree completely with what He has revealed in His Word. If you you feel God is speaking to you, prayerfully examine the Word of God to see if it is in agreement with Scripture. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” - I Corinthians 2:9-12. God is above human reasoning, all we have to do to hear Him is let the Holy Spirit that is inside all believers work inside us.
Just as one thing can turn prosperity into shame, it can turn shame into prosperity, regardless of the messes that we get ourselves into, one thing is for sure God will help us out of them if we repent and come to Him. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” - Acts 3:19. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night,
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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Today is Thursday April 22, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings, chapters 3-4. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-22
Title: Bible Study: Just One Thing
When we get ourselves into messes we often wonder, “How did I get myself into this mess?” While sometimes we want to blame others or even blame God for what is happening the truth is, it's all of our own doing. If you truly stop and think about the things you did to get where you were you would find out that it all started with just one thing.
Solomon was a wise man, a rich man, a great man, yet the brightest praise of him, is that he loved the Lord. Sadly he also loved the things of the world and that would soon cause him to align Israel with Egypt once again. His first mistake, he married the Pharaoh's daughter. “And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.”- I Kings 3:1-4. How sad is it to read that he loved the Lord, yet sacrificed in high places, high places were the groves heathens used to offer human sacrifices to their gods. Solomon loved God, but he was not willing to follow all his commands. Perhaps he thought such a large offering would make up for compromising Israel with Egypt. Solomon is an example of brilliant, multi-talented people who say they love God, but compromise with the world to get the things they want. They are so blessed with God's gifts, yet compromise biblical principles, assuming that God is pleased and blessing them since they are successful and popular in the world.
God saw where this was going so to get his attention, that night He came to Solomon in a dream, “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” - I Kings 3:5-9. This was not just some ordinary dream, this was God and He was speaking to him through the dream. This dream revealed the abundant mercy and grace that God would give Solomon or anyone else who chooses to live to love the Lord with all his heart and keeps His commandments, but sadly, his dream did not create in Solomon a real desire to be faithful to God. Eventually he turned away from the Lord because his desire to please himself and his foreign wives became greater than his desire to please God. All it took was one thing to turn Solomon away from God and that was by marrying a heathen wife. Later on in his life, he learned that all of the things he had, all of the eight hundred plus wives he had, and all of the wealth he had, did nothing for him, it was all worthless without God.
Just one thing can turn prosperity into shame, that is why it is important that we make decisions according to the Word of God. God will use many ways to get us to hear what He has to say to us, even our dreams. How do you know if it is God speaking to you? Anything God says, whether it is in a dream, a vision, an impression, or that still small voice in your head, will agree completely with what He has revealed in His Word. If you you feel God is speaking to you, prayerfully examine the Word of God to see if it is in agreement with Scripture. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” - I Corinthians 2:9-12. God is above human reasoning, all we have to do to hear Him is let the Holy Spirit that is inside all believers work inside us.
Just as one thing can turn prosperity into shame, it can turn shame into prosperity, regardless of the messes that we get ourselves into, one thing is for sure God will help us out of them if we repent and come to Him. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” - Acts 3:19. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night,
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Bible Study: Grow Old Gracefully 04.21.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Wednesday April 21, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings, chapters 1-2. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-21
Title: Bible Study: Grow Old Gracefully
As Christians age, although our physical strength may diminish, our spiritual strength grows stronger, as long as we stay strong in the Lord. It is important that we never stop strengthening ourselves spiritually as the more we do the more we can handle the circumstances we face as we grow old gracefully.
The book of I Kings is the eleventh book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-two chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to the Israelites. The purpose of the book was to record God's dealings with His people from King Solomon's reign, through the division of the kingdom, through the reigns of Ahab in the north and Jehoshaphat in the south. What we are to learn from the book is that compromise may seem the best thing to do, but it is always costly later.
King David was growing old and his health was diminishing rapidly, it was time for him to anoint a new king. God had already appointed Solomon to be the next king, but there was yet another son, Adonijah, he was a little older and thought he had the right to be king. Presuming that since he was the oldest living son of David this gave him the right to the throne, and disregarding his father's prolonged illness, Adonijah ruthlessy attempted to seize the throne by force. “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.” - I Kings 1:5-7. Adonijah, persuaded the two most influential men in Israel to join him and become traitors to David. Abiathar, the high priest, through whom Adonijah would have religious approval by the people, and the powerful Joab, commander-in-chief of David's army, cooperated with Adonijah in this ruthless conspiracy. There is always going to be someone who thinks he can walk over a person because they are physically unable to stand up to him. Of course, he has to get other people involved because he really has no capability to do it on his own. Have you ever seen the people who are the root of all the evil? They always get a bunch of self absorbed egos to do their dirty work for them. Think about it, the root of all evil is Satan himself, he enlists the most proud, self centered people to do his work for him, but the truth is that he is a coward, and so is every other person who persuades good people to fall. They will be the ones who will fall in the end.
Adonijah gathered all his men together for a feast to celebrate his inauguration, little did they know that while they were partying, the real king was being anointed. “And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.....And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?...And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.” - I Kings 1:29,30,39-41,49-51. The tables have turned, every person who conspired to take the throne from Solomon ran and now Adonijah is fearing for his life. One can not prosper by using ones illness or doing things behind others backs, they might even think that they have gotten away with things, but they will all get caught eventually and find themselves fearing their lives as Adonijah did.
David faced some really huge disappointments in his life, from the time he was to reign, to his great sin with Bathsheba, to the constant battles with his sons. From a human point of view, all of David's disappointments were a tragedy but, from God's point of view, they were designed to expose the selfish and greedy motives in the hearts of those who were supposed to be loyal and close friends. They were also a clear revelation of the sovereign hand of God over the practical concerns in everyone's life. David's strength did not come from physical endurance, it came from God and that is what made him prosperous. David said, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.” - Psalm 18:30-32. Most of my life I can relate to what David had gone through. There was always someone trying to take advantage of my hospitality, I got deceived by those I thought were friends and by loved ones, I was hated by people I worked with because I got promoted the right way. Oh, I too sinned and faced the consequences of my sin, but the more that I suffered the closer I got to Jesus. He truly is the only one who could have saved me from where I was headed. Praise God that He took me out of the world and away from those so called friends and all the things that kept me away from Him.
We can all grow old gracefully and set an example for future generations to follow, but we must continue to become stronger spiritually, it is the only way that we can beat Satan at his game. Our strength comes from the Lord, the more we endure the stronger we become spiritually, physically, and mentally as well. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” - Psalm 27:14.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Today is Wednesday April 21, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Kings, chapters 1-2. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-21
Title: Bible Study: Grow Old Gracefully
As Christians age, although our physical strength may diminish, our spiritual strength grows stronger, as long as we stay strong in the Lord. It is important that we never stop strengthening ourselves spiritually as the more we do the more we can handle the circumstances we face as we grow old gracefully.
The book of I Kings is the eleventh book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-two chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to the Israelites. The purpose of the book was to record God's dealings with His people from King Solomon's reign, through the division of the kingdom, through the reigns of Ahab in the north and Jehoshaphat in the south. What we are to learn from the book is that compromise may seem the best thing to do, but it is always costly later.
King David was growing old and his health was diminishing rapidly, it was time for him to anoint a new king. God had already appointed Solomon to be the next king, but there was yet another son, Adonijah, he was a little older and thought he had the right to be king. Presuming that since he was the oldest living son of David this gave him the right to the throne, and disregarding his father's prolonged illness, Adonijah ruthlessy attempted to seize the throne by force. “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.” - I Kings 1:5-7. Adonijah, persuaded the two most influential men in Israel to join him and become traitors to David. Abiathar, the high priest, through whom Adonijah would have religious approval by the people, and the powerful Joab, commander-in-chief of David's army, cooperated with Adonijah in this ruthless conspiracy. There is always going to be someone who thinks he can walk over a person because they are physically unable to stand up to him. Of course, he has to get other people involved because he really has no capability to do it on his own. Have you ever seen the people who are the root of all the evil? They always get a bunch of self absorbed egos to do their dirty work for them. Think about it, the root of all evil is Satan himself, he enlists the most proud, self centered people to do his work for him, but the truth is that he is a coward, and so is every other person who persuades good people to fall. They will be the ones who will fall in the end.
Adonijah gathered all his men together for a feast to celebrate his inauguration, little did they know that while they were partying, the real king was being anointed. “And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.....And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?...And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.” - I Kings 1:29,30,39-41,49-51. The tables have turned, every person who conspired to take the throne from Solomon ran and now Adonijah is fearing for his life. One can not prosper by using ones illness or doing things behind others backs, they might even think that they have gotten away with things, but they will all get caught eventually and find themselves fearing their lives as Adonijah did.
David faced some really huge disappointments in his life, from the time he was to reign, to his great sin with Bathsheba, to the constant battles with his sons. From a human point of view, all of David's disappointments were a tragedy but, from God's point of view, they were designed to expose the selfish and greedy motives in the hearts of those who were supposed to be loyal and close friends. They were also a clear revelation of the sovereign hand of God over the practical concerns in everyone's life. David's strength did not come from physical endurance, it came from God and that is what made him prosperous. David said, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.” - Psalm 18:30-32. Most of my life I can relate to what David had gone through. There was always someone trying to take advantage of my hospitality, I got deceived by those I thought were friends and by loved ones, I was hated by people I worked with because I got promoted the right way. Oh, I too sinned and faced the consequences of my sin, but the more that I suffered the closer I got to Jesus. He truly is the only one who could have saved me from where I was headed. Praise God that He took me out of the world and away from those so called friends and all the things that kept me away from Him.
We can all grow old gracefully and set an example for future generations to follow, but we must continue to become stronger spiritually, it is the only way that we can beat Satan at his game. Our strength comes from the Lord, the more we endure the stronger we become spiritually, physically, and mentally as well. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” - Psalm 27:14.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Bible Study: In His Will Anyway 04.20.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Tuesday April 20, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel chapters 23-24. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-20
Title: Bible Study: In His Will Anyway
As a disciple of Christ it is a honor to represent Christ and to know that He has chosen you to be a part of His team. That is not a position to be taken too lightly as few are blessed to even be one of God's people, yet you have been chosen personally by Jesus to be one of His disciples. Every person born has been born with a purpose by God, whether it is to be a man of God, to be a teacher, to be a disciple, or to even be the thorn in the side of many, we are all here for one reason, to serve God's purpose, whether we realize who God is or not. Everything that happened throughout the centuries and even today is inspired by God, oh He allows us the gift of free will, but He uses the choices we make to fulfill His purpose.
The Bible was written by forty men who were given the words by God Himself to write them for the purpose of giving documentation of God, His creating the world, and the people He chose to represent Him. David was one of those men inspired by God and he now he is talking about the last thing that God had him write. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” - II Samuel 23:1-5. These were the last words David spoke after he had finished the book of Psalms or the last that he spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. David's comfort was in the Lord and that He made an everlasting covenant with him, the covenant of mercy and grace and peace, which the Lord made with him as a sinner, who believed in the promised Savior. There is an infinite fulness of grace and all the blessings treasured up in Christ, for those who seek his salvation.
David never lost a battle in his 40-year reign because he sought the Lord for guidance in every battle. However, David would soon realize that he would lose his first battle without even the lift of a sward. “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.... And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.” - II Samuel 24:1,10-15. David knew that what he had done was wrong, but the damage was done. He disobey the law and because of that a price would be paid. There is no record that taking a census was prohibited, but the Law did state that every person counted was to be compensated for. “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.” - Exodus 30:12,13. Because of this violation, a plague spread over the land and 70,000 people lost their lives. The Holy Spirit directed the writing of II Samuel to let us see that everyone is under the sovereign will of God, but He allows us to stubbornly go our own way, for He will not violate our free will.
There is a glorious harmony between sacrifice to God and sacrifice for others. Your relationship with God needs to be one of sincerity, and wholly to honor Him. Therefore, our daily association with others becomes an opportunity of offering ourselves to meet their needs, then thanking the Lord for that privilege. The true spirit of Christ is to be motivated by love and is practiced by those in whom Christ truly dwells. The greatness of a person's life is measured by his surrender to the Lord's will and purpose and then gives God the credit for any success. It's not what we get, but what we give, with no ulterior motives for personal gain, that is the measure of our success. While God allows us to choose how we do things, once we make that decision, if not in the will of God, we face the consequences for them, often bringing others down with us. However, He makes every decision we make one that will do His will, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:20,21. How amazing is it that even when you do not make a decision in the will of God that He will use that decision to get you to do His will anyway? Only one more reason to realize that God is always in control. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Today is Tuesday April 20, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel chapters 23-24. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-20
Title: Bible Study: In His Will Anyway
As a disciple of Christ it is a honor to represent Christ and to know that He has chosen you to be a part of His team. That is not a position to be taken too lightly as few are blessed to even be one of God's people, yet you have been chosen personally by Jesus to be one of His disciples. Every person born has been born with a purpose by God, whether it is to be a man of God, to be a teacher, to be a disciple, or to even be the thorn in the side of many, we are all here for one reason, to serve God's purpose, whether we realize who God is or not. Everything that happened throughout the centuries and even today is inspired by God, oh He allows us the gift of free will, but He uses the choices we make to fulfill His purpose.
The Bible was written by forty men who were given the words by God Himself to write them for the purpose of giving documentation of God, His creating the world, and the people He chose to represent Him. David was one of those men inspired by God and he now he is talking about the last thing that God had him write. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” - II Samuel 23:1-5. These were the last words David spoke after he had finished the book of Psalms or the last that he spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. David's comfort was in the Lord and that He made an everlasting covenant with him, the covenant of mercy and grace and peace, which the Lord made with him as a sinner, who believed in the promised Savior. There is an infinite fulness of grace and all the blessings treasured up in Christ, for those who seek his salvation.
David never lost a battle in his 40-year reign because he sought the Lord for guidance in every battle. However, David would soon realize that he would lose his first battle without even the lift of a sward. “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.... And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.” - II Samuel 24:1,10-15. David knew that what he had done was wrong, but the damage was done. He disobey the law and because of that a price would be paid. There is no record that taking a census was prohibited, but the Law did state that every person counted was to be compensated for. “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.” - Exodus 30:12,13. Because of this violation, a plague spread over the land and 70,000 people lost their lives. The Holy Spirit directed the writing of II Samuel to let us see that everyone is under the sovereign will of God, but He allows us to stubbornly go our own way, for He will not violate our free will.
There is a glorious harmony between sacrifice to God and sacrifice for others. Your relationship with God needs to be one of sincerity, and wholly to honor Him. Therefore, our daily association with others becomes an opportunity of offering ourselves to meet their needs, then thanking the Lord for that privilege. The true spirit of Christ is to be motivated by love and is practiced by those in whom Christ truly dwells. The greatness of a person's life is measured by his surrender to the Lord's will and purpose and then gives God the credit for any success. It's not what we get, but what we give, with no ulterior motives for personal gain, that is the measure of our success. While God allows us to choose how we do things, once we make that decision, if not in the will of God, we face the consequences for them, often bringing others down with us. However, He makes every decision we make one that will do His will, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:20,21. How amazing is it that even when you do not make a decision in the will of God that He will use that decision to get you to do His will anyway? Only one more reason to realize that God is always in control. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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Monday, April 19, 2010
Bible Study: When Are My Blessings Coming? 04.19.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Monday April 19, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel, chapters 21-22. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-19
Title: Bible Study: When Are My Blessings Coming?
True Christians have committed to living their lives for Christ, that is they try to be more like Him, they are faithful, read their Bibles on a regular basis, pray all the time, come to every church service, and even go out and tell neighbors how they too can know Christ. No matter how much like Christ we try to be, there are times in our lives where it seems that we are in a famine, constantly seeking answers from God and not getting any. Yet we remain faithful, not cursing God, but always wondering, when are my blessings coming. Now, there may be some hidden sin in our lives that needs to be reconciled with God before He starts pouring out the blessings, but it may not be anything that we have done at all. Often, it is not something we did that hinder God from giving blessings, it is something someone else has done.
For three years there was a famine in the land of Israel, finally David inquired of the Lord to see why this was happening. “Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.” - II Samuel 21:1-6. David had no doubt that God had some reason for this famine. He believed that God would not afflict His people without having a reason for it. What happened was, Saul had violated the covenant that Israel had made with the Gibeonites four hundred years earlier. That treaty was still sacred because the covenant had been sworn to in the Name of God (See Joshua 9:3,15-19). The surviving Gibeonites did not ask David for silver or gold to compensate for the murder of loved ones or for the loss of their property, they asked permission to hang seven men who were descendants of Saul. David was responsible before God to deliver the seven men to the Gibeonites therefore he did as they asked. Sometimes doing the right thing might mean that one would have to turn someone in for committing a crime. It is important that we do not let people get away with things, pretending that something did not happen will cause problems for you and them. Remember what happened to Amnon and Absalom because David chose to ignore their crimes? One mistake that Christians make is that they do not ask God what is going on. God will not answer us unless we ask Him first. Jesus Said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” - John 15:7. All who believe in Christ are one with Him, therefore He will answer us.
David teaches us to give praise to God in the midst of stressful times, regardless of our circumstances. David wrote a song of praise to God. All of chapter 22 is called David's song, which is identical to Psalm 18 and in it there is not one complaint, only praise to God through all of the circumstances he faced. “And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. ” - II Samuel 22:1-7. God hears all whom have received His blessed Son, Jesus Christ as their Savior.
So, are you asking God, “When are my blessings coming?” It is time to take a serious look at what you are doing in your life. Is it simply something you do not need or are not ready for? Is there some secret sin that you think you are hiding? Is it a person you hang our with? Is it a job? Is it a spouse or ex spouse? Or is it that you have lost your faith in God? Those who really have no faith in God are not fruitful and will not grow as a true Christian. Jesus describes Christians who are not fruitful as seeds that were planted in stony ground. “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” - Matthew 13:20,21. True Christians will remain faithful to God and keep going no matter what circumstances they are facing. Ask God to search your heart and show you anything that is hindering you from receiving your blessings. There was a time in my life when I was engaged to a man in prison, just this morning I thought to myself all the times God had tried to keep me away from him, but did not listen to Him back then. I broke things off with him, but did not handle it in the right way. This man became so angry with me that he was vindictive, I did not want to fight so I just let him say what he wanted and moved on with my life. I started doing more for God, teaching, working at the church, online missions, staying in the Word of God, got rid of all the worldly things in my life, but it seemed that nothing was changing. I asked God what was going on and he told me that I needed to reconcile with my ex, not get back together with him, but tell him that I was sorry for hurting him and I forgive him for what he had done. The very next day things started to turn around for me and the blessings started pouring in. You see, God wants to bless us, but we must let go of things in our lives that are hindering us before we receive them. Want your blessings to come? Ask God what you need to do to receive them.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and an awesome week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
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http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Today is Monday April 19, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel, chapters 21-22. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-19
Title: Bible Study: When Are My Blessings Coming?
True Christians have committed to living their lives for Christ, that is they try to be more like Him, they are faithful, read their Bibles on a regular basis, pray all the time, come to every church service, and even go out and tell neighbors how they too can know Christ. No matter how much like Christ we try to be, there are times in our lives where it seems that we are in a famine, constantly seeking answers from God and not getting any. Yet we remain faithful, not cursing God, but always wondering, when are my blessings coming. Now, there may be some hidden sin in our lives that needs to be reconciled with God before He starts pouring out the blessings, but it may not be anything that we have done at all. Often, it is not something we did that hinder God from giving blessings, it is something someone else has done.
For three years there was a famine in the land of Israel, finally David inquired of the Lord to see why this was happening. “Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.” - II Samuel 21:1-6. David had no doubt that God had some reason for this famine. He believed that God would not afflict His people without having a reason for it. What happened was, Saul had violated the covenant that Israel had made with the Gibeonites four hundred years earlier. That treaty was still sacred because the covenant had been sworn to in the Name of God (See Joshua 9:3,15-19). The surviving Gibeonites did not ask David for silver or gold to compensate for the murder of loved ones or for the loss of their property, they asked permission to hang seven men who were descendants of Saul. David was responsible before God to deliver the seven men to the Gibeonites therefore he did as they asked. Sometimes doing the right thing might mean that one would have to turn someone in for committing a crime. It is important that we do not let people get away with things, pretending that something did not happen will cause problems for you and them. Remember what happened to Amnon and Absalom because David chose to ignore their crimes? One mistake that Christians make is that they do not ask God what is going on. God will not answer us unless we ask Him first. Jesus Said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” - John 15:7. All who believe in Christ are one with Him, therefore He will answer us.
David teaches us to give praise to God in the midst of stressful times, regardless of our circumstances. David wrote a song of praise to God. All of chapter 22 is called David's song, which is identical to Psalm 18 and in it there is not one complaint, only praise to God through all of the circumstances he faced. “And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. ” - II Samuel 22:1-7. God hears all whom have received His blessed Son, Jesus Christ as their Savior.
So, are you asking God, “When are my blessings coming?” It is time to take a serious look at what you are doing in your life. Is it simply something you do not need or are not ready for? Is there some secret sin that you think you are hiding? Is it a person you hang our with? Is it a job? Is it a spouse or ex spouse? Or is it that you have lost your faith in God? Those who really have no faith in God are not fruitful and will not grow as a true Christian. Jesus describes Christians who are not fruitful as seeds that were planted in stony ground. “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” - Matthew 13:20,21. True Christians will remain faithful to God and keep going no matter what circumstances they are facing. Ask God to search your heart and show you anything that is hindering you from receiving your blessings. There was a time in my life when I was engaged to a man in prison, just this morning I thought to myself all the times God had tried to keep me away from him, but did not listen to Him back then. I broke things off with him, but did not handle it in the right way. This man became so angry with me that he was vindictive, I did not want to fight so I just let him say what he wanted and moved on with my life. I started doing more for God, teaching, working at the church, online missions, staying in the Word of God, got rid of all the worldly things in my life, but it seemed that nothing was changing. I asked God what was going on and he told me that I needed to reconcile with my ex, not get back together with him, but tell him that I was sorry for hurting him and I forgive him for what he had done. The very next day things started to turn around for me and the blessings started pouring in. You see, God wants to bless us, but we must let go of things in our lives that are hindering us before we receive them. Want your blessings to come? Ask God what you need to do to receive them.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and an awesome week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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Sunday, April 18, 2010
Bible Study: Everything Is A Gift 04.18.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Sunday April 18, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel, chapters 19-20. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-18
Title: Bible Study: Everything is A Gift
All it takes to remind us of just how precious life is is to see the sudden death of a loved one, especially if it is a child or spouse. While we all wish we could have done a little more to keep that person alive or had just a little more time with him, it is important to realize that it's all in God's hands. We may not understand why He chose to take someone so soon, but He knows and if we take the time to talk with Him and let Him show us the answer He will let us know. In order to find the answer we need to find the Savior, He will comfort us and give us the answers we are looking for.
After their victory over Absalom, David's soldiers returned from battle expecting to be welcomed by a glorious victory celebration, instead, they heard the king weeping and wailing over the death of his son. “And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.” - II Samuel 19:2-7. David's deep grief at the death of his evil son Absalom made him incapable of feeling or carrying out his responsibility to both God and the people. His sorrow was so great that he lost all sense of gratitude to God and his faithful followers, but the death of the rebel leader was the only way by which peace could be restored to the nation and the throne could be restored to its God-appointed king. Joab had to remind David that he had a job to do, take care of his people, not the dead.
It does not take long for a wicked selfish person to use a persons grief to his advantage, a man named Sheba used this opportunity to start another civil war. “And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.” - II Samuel 20:1,2. While we are full of emotions and grief, it is easy to lose sight of God and our responsibilities in life, but one can not let the death of a loved one take control of their lives. David had faced many sorrows throughout his life after sinning with Bathsheba. When the first child he had with Bathsheba became sick, David had prayed and fasted. Then, when he received word that the child had died, he confidently said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” David knew heaven would be all the more precious because his child was up there with the Lord. However, after Absalom's death, David expressed no hope of seeing Absalom in heaven. Perhaps he grieved so much because he wished Absalom had just one more chance to turn from his wicked ways. Which is one more reason to make sure that we all know for sure we are going to heaven when we die. However, God knew where Absalom was going had he allowed him to live, if you think about it there would have been some fierce competition with him and Solomon since it was God's choice for Solomon to take David's place as king, not Absalom, whom would have been the oldest at the time and next heir to the throne.
While we have no idea what the future holds, God does know what it holds and He sees beyond the surface of what we see. My brother passed away almost six weeks ago with double pneumonia, he was in the hospital and improving every day, then all of a sudden his body began rejecting the medication and he passed away two days later, he was only thirty-four, but he knew he was saved and safe in the arms of Jesus. We all questioned why he was taken so soon or what could we have done sooner to prevent this, but it was all in God's hands. God saw that pain that my brother would have been in beyond the pneumonia and did not want him to suffer any longer. So, he went home to be with God and now he is up there playing basketball with Jesus. We had to wait over three weeks to get him buried, leaving us with more questions, but through it all we never lost sight of God. The day that my brother was finally able to be put to rest my mother said, “God gave me the answer I needed, now I know why He took my son to be home with Him.” You see, everything we go through in life has a season, we may not fully understand and we will never forget the people who come and go so quickly in our lives, but one thing is for sure, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;... I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,12,13. Everything is a gift from God
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a goof week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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Today is Sunday April 18, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Samuel, chapters 19-20. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-18
Title: Bible Study: Everything is A Gift
All it takes to remind us of just how precious life is is to see the sudden death of a loved one, especially if it is a child or spouse. While we all wish we could have done a little more to keep that person alive or had just a little more time with him, it is important to realize that it's all in God's hands. We may not understand why He chose to take someone so soon, but He knows and if we take the time to talk with Him and let Him show us the answer He will let us know. In order to find the answer we need to find the Savior, He will comfort us and give us the answers we are looking for.
After their victory over Absalom, David's soldiers returned from battle expecting to be welcomed by a glorious victory celebration, instead, they heard the king weeping and wailing over the death of his son. “And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.” - II Samuel 19:2-7. David's deep grief at the death of his evil son Absalom made him incapable of feeling or carrying out his responsibility to both God and the people. His sorrow was so great that he lost all sense of gratitude to God and his faithful followers, but the death of the rebel leader was the only way by which peace could be restored to the nation and the throne could be restored to its God-appointed king. Joab had to remind David that he had a job to do, take care of his people, not the dead.
It does not take long for a wicked selfish person to use a persons grief to his advantage, a man named Sheba used this opportunity to start another civil war. “And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.” - II Samuel 20:1,2. While we are full of emotions and grief, it is easy to lose sight of God and our responsibilities in life, but one can not let the death of a loved one take control of their lives. David had faced many sorrows throughout his life after sinning with Bathsheba. When the first child he had with Bathsheba became sick, David had prayed and fasted. Then, when he received word that the child had died, he confidently said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” David knew heaven would be all the more precious because his child was up there with the Lord. However, after Absalom's death, David expressed no hope of seeing Absalom in heaven. Perhaps he grieved so much because he wished Absalom had just one more chance to turn from his wicked ways. Which is one more reason to make sure that we all know for sure we are going to heaven when we die. However, God knew where Absalom was going had he allowed him to live, if you think about it there would have been some fierce competition with him and Solomon since it was God's choice for Solomon to take David's place as king, not Absalom, whom would have been the oldest at the time and next heir to the throne.
While we have no idea what the future holds, God does know what it holds and He sees beyond the surface of what we see. My brother passed away almost six weeks ago with double pneumonia, he was in the hospital and improving every day, then all of a sudden his body began rejecting the medication and he passed away two days later, he was only thirty-four, but he knew he was saved and safe in the arms of Jesus. We all questioned why he was taken so soon or what could we have done sooner to prevent this, but it was all in God's hands. God saw that pain that my brother would have been in beyond the pneumonia and did not want him to suffer any longer. So, he went home to be with God and now he is up there playing basketball with Jesus. We had to wait over three weeks to get him buried, leaving us with more questions, but through it all we never lost sight of God. The day that my brother was finally able to be put to rest my mother said, “God gave me the answer I needed, now I know why He took my son to be home with Him.” You see, everything we go through in life has a season, we may not fully understand and we will never forget the people who come and go so quickly in our lives, but one thing is for sure, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;... I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,12,13. Everything is a gift from God
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a goof week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Do You Know That You Are Going to Heaven? You Can Know.
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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